Zen Lofts

Zen Lofts was our favorite place during a month of travelling around western Canada. We liked the loft and Calgary so much that we extended our stay. The neighborhood has loads of fashionable shops and restaurants, and we loved looking out at the downtown lights from the cozy sofa while watching prime networks on the big flat-screen TV. The loft itself was spotless, modern, stylish, and comfortable, with beautiful hardwood floors. It had everything we could want: a big comfy bed, European style washer/semi-dryer combo, full-size refrigerator, stove/oven, cookware, dishes, cutlery, Keurig, and dishwasher. Our dealings with loft management were positive and professional. We couldn’t have asked for more and hope to return. Five stars!!!!!

I found the whole thing stressful and unprofessional, and I won’t book with Zen Lofts again because you can’t be sure you’ll have a place to stay. My boyfriend and I had bought extra groceries to cook cheaply in the loft, so now we’ve wasted that money and have to pay several hundred dollars more for a last-minute hotel, plus extra for eating out without a kitchen. I checked on our room for that night this morning and found an email saying the booking had been cancelled at the last minute because of water issues. There was no attempt to make things right. This followed a frustrating booking process: I requested a late check-in because we were driving from Saskatoon to Calgary, but never got confirmation it was possible. The phone number went to voicemail, then said the mailbox was full, so I couldn’t leave a message or speak to anyone. I emailed to ask what was happening and waited another day for a response.

The loft was just okay. The baseboards were coming off the walls, there was no AC, only two TV channels worked, and the thin walls made the building really loud. It was frustrating that you can’t talk to anyone in person when you have a question or problem. We’d been told an early check-in was fine, but when we arrived, we got a text saying the room wasn’t ready and waited over an hour and a half while it was still being cleaned. They advertise free parking out back, but there are only five spaces for the whole building. The area itself is lovely, with lots to do and see within walking distance.

The rooms look great, and the number-lock entry was handy. There’s no front desk, but the onsite guy helped us sort out the few problems we had. We were fine with Netflix being the only option. Parking is a hassle, though the location was the best part since we were out exploring the city.